reef tank tops

im in the process of starting a new 40 gallon nano. i dont want to use glass tops or egg crate but would like to keep fish from jumping out. ive also seen the mesh screen technique. i was wondering if i could use an acrylic sheet from lowes/home depot and put holes in it. this would be light and easy to clean salt off of. i may even cut it in two and cover the ends with a gap right under the light. they could still get out there, but it will minimize the space. has anyone ever done this? my lighting is t5 with some leds.

 

Cheaper and easier to get some screen material from BRS and then build it like a screen for a window at your house. Works great, lower maintenance and doesn't block any light, heat or gas exchange.

 

As mentioned above, get plastic canvas. Easy to build to your tank dimensions. Egg crate gets the job done too, but looks ugly.

 

I've always used full hoods or glass covers with no issues. You just need to keep it clean and make sure it's not air-tight.

That said, I can't imagine the acrylic lasting very long. Dried salt is highly abrasive, so each time it gets cleaned, it will get buffeted and very shortly will start to appear "cloudy", which will interfere with light penetration. If you don't want to use glass, then I, too, would recommend a mesh top.